The Big Kids Lolly Bag Debate

It was the best party ever! I hugged my friend, the birthday girl goodbye and clutching the big party bag to my chest I headed over to the car where my mum was waiting with my three little brothers. As I approached, I would glare at my brothers sitting in the back seat, their little eyes locked onto the bright plastic bag in my arms. They knew what it was. A bag full to the brim of cavity causing, sugar coma inducing lollies and they were all mine! It was my friend’s party and my lolly bag. I would share with them the piece of birthday cake that I had accidentally squashed in the napkin whilst trying to get into the car. That was going to be my good deed as a big sister (I was eight years old).

I’d slide into the passenger seat and on the ride home talk incessantly about how great the party was the games we played, the prizes, the type of cake. I was talking so much in an attempt to delay the inevitable. To distract my mum from what was about to happen once we got home. It didn’t work and when we got home she held out her hand for the bag. Begrudgingly I would hand it over (not without begging, pleading and promises to clean my room for a month – the exact amount of time it would take for all the sugar to clear my system, cleaning my room I would be lightning fast!) I would get the little plastic toys but the lollies were handed out over a period of time to avoid the great big sugar rush. Oh and I also know full well that my parents pinched the odd sweet too. I do it now with my kids’ party bags. A little trick I learnt from my school friends was to fill up on the lollies at the party before going home to ease the loss of handing over the best part of the birthday party.

Of course as a mother myself I understand it now. We don’t have lollies in our house, except for what Mike’s parents send over from Canada for birthdays and Christmas, yet even then it is put away and handed out over a period of time. Talking to other mum’s I can see both sides of the Great Lolly Bag Debate. Should you hand out lolly bags? My two only have to hear the word lolly and they are off on a sugar rush! That is what kids do. I was like that as a kid and I am sure many other grown-ups will admit that as children only wanting to go to a birthday party just for the cake and lolly bag! If my children go to a party I do not mind if they get given a lolly bag as I will just do what my parents did. Right now it really isn’t too much of an issue.

Our daughter starts school next year and we expect to have the odd birthday party here and there, but right now our children do not have the social life of a Kardashian, so the odd party bag is not too much of a worry for us. I can understand parents who think lolly bags for toddler parties are unnecessary. Instead of a party bag why not give the little guests a personalised lollipop?

I am mindful when it comes to party bags for our children’s parties and I try to keep the sweets to a minimum. I know people can joke that half the fun of a kids party is you fill other people’s kids up with sugar and then send them home but still party bags are evolving to a little more than a plastic trumpet and a bag of Allen’s sweets (for me though, nothing beats a bag of the Allen’s party mix). You can now put together little craft activity bags in theme with the party (especially if there are children there with health conditions which prohibit them from having lollies). If you are a bit of a whiz in the kitchen, whip up a batch of cookies (check out the Dinosaur Cookie Cutters as an example). Pink Frosting also sell cute little packs that you can use such as the Butterfly Favour Packs. I also really like the idea of personalising treats and Pink Frosting provide a great range of treats and sweets for your kids’ party - both lollies and some great non-edible treats. For more ideas and products check out the Pink Frosting party bag range.